Cuttack: The stage is set for Sushant Dhal Samant to face trial in a double murder case, eight years after a shootout here that sent shockwaves across the city.

"Sushant Dhal Samant, who is main accused in the case, will face trial shortly as the Court of Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM), Cuttack, committed the case for trial to the District & Sessions Court, Cuttack, on Monday," assistant public prosecutor Biswajit Baral said.

Masked sharpshooters shot dead two persons - Kameswar Sethy alias Lichua and his relative Anirudha Sethy alias Titua - at a busy marketplace on the afternoon of December 11, 2009. The incident occurred at the fish market at Nuabazar area in Chauliaganj police limits.

While both the victims were contractors, Titua had several criminal cases against him. After investigation, the police had arrested Sushil Dhal Samant, younger of the siblings, along with Sanjay Sahu, Gauri Mohapatra, Binod Sahu, Ashish Sahu and Bhajana Sahu and na-med them as accused in the case.

"Subsequently, all six accused faced trials in the case on the basis of the charge sheets, but a trial court acquitted them. However, Sushant, the main accused had not faced trial as he was absconding and not been arrested," Baral said.

Sushant was arrested afresh in the case on June 11 and produced before the SDJM.

"After the charge sheet was submitted against him for murder and illegal use of arms, SDJM, Cuttack, Bijay Kumar Das took cognizance and sent the case to trial court on Monday," Baral said.